Thomas A. Jones, president of the village board of Brighton and
vice-president of the Betsy Ann Picnic Association, was born in Brighton
township, April 20, 1854, and has been a lifelong resident of this
section. He is a son of William and Cassandra Jones, the former of whom
was born in Wales, May 14, 1817, and the latter in Tennessee. The father
was the eldest in a family of six children and came to America with his
parents in 1831. They spent two years in Dutchess county, New York, and
then arrived in Illinois, taking up their residence at Alton. William
Jones settled in Macoupin county in 1833 and was prominent as one of the
pioneers of this county. In 1849 he joined a party of gold seekers and
crossed the plains to California, returning the next year with four
thousand dollars, which he invested in one hundred and sixty acres of
land in Brighton township. He was a man of good business judgment and
acquired more than one thousand acres in this region. He was married in
1851 to Miss Cassandra E. Brown, who died in 1864, leaving one son,
Thomas A., the subject of this review. In 1870 Mr. Jones was again
married, the lady of his choice being Miss Margaret Force, who was born
at Dresden, Muskingum county, Ohio, and to this union there were born
three children, Susan M., Vale F. and William. Mr. Jones was an earnest
adherent of the democratic party and for many years served as justice of
the peace. He died in 1892 and will long be remembered as one of the
most efficient factors in the upbuilding of Macoupin county.
Thomas A. Jones acquired his preliminary education in the district
schools, but he was ambitious to study the higher branches, believing
that with good mental training he could better perform his part in the
world. Accordingly, he continued his studies at Blackburn College and
the Illinois State University at Urbana. Returning home, he applied
himself to agriculture and stock-raising under his father and in 1875
associated with the latter in the purchase of one hundred and sixty
acres adjoining the home farm. He purchased his father’s interest in
this land in 1876 and made his home there during the next nineteen
years. In 1895 he removed to Brighton and for thirteen years was
actively connected with the lumber business, disposing of his interest
to the Brighton Lumber Company. He was one of the organizers of the
First National Bank of Brighton and was elected a member of the board of
directors, a position which he has ever since tilled. Upon the
organization of the Betsy Ann Picnic Association he was made
vice-president and has served continuously in that capacity to the
present time. He is also chief of the volunteer fire department of
Brighton and takes great interest in everything pertaining to the
advancement of the town.
In 1875 Mr. Jones was married to Miss
Clara P. Clark, who was born in Brighton and who became the mother of
two children: Oliver C., who was killed in 1904 in a collision upon the
Big Four Railway, being an employe of that road; and Raymond C., who is
now serving as cashier of the First National Bank of Golden, Illinois.
The mother of these children died in 1896 and in 1898 Mr. Jones was
married at Brighton to Miss Belle Weld, who was born in New Hampshire.
In political faith Mr. Jones adheres to the democratic party. He
served for several years as member of the school board and as highway
commissioner while a resident of the township. With the exception of one
year he has served as president of the village board at Brighton since
1898. He is a member of Hibbard Lodge, No. 249, A. F. & A. M., and he
and his wife are both charter members of the Order of the Eastern Star.
He is also connected with Brighton Camp, No. 1688, M. W. A. He is not
connected with any religious denomination, but is a liberal contributor
to the Presbyterian church, in which his wife holds membership. He has
been connected with the business interests of Macoupin county for over
forty-five years and on account of his many admirable traits of
character is recognized as one of its most useful citizens. Strictly
honorable in all his dealings, he merits the confidence in which he is
held and deserves prominent mention in a work devoted to the history of
a section where the family of which he is a member has been known for
over three-quarters of a century.
Extracted 14 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 335-336.
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